Thursday, August 28, 2014

HELSINKI SUNRISE BOOK REVIEW

by Ruth Dell


Helsinki Sunrise, a Passport to Romance, blog tour follows on from yesterday’s author interview with Marion Ueckermann here at International Christian Fiction Writers. Today I’ll be reviewing Helsinki Sunrise.

Marion Ueckermann has skilfully combined the ingredients in her debut novella, Helsinki Sunrise, to create a light-hearted, yet deeply satisfying, inspirational romance.

Eveliina needs a break from her demanding job and boss/boyfriend, so she withdraws to her grandparents' secluded island cottage to enjoy nature and a time of solitude. She is cheesed off when she finds a man in her sauna. The man in question is Adam, a missionary from Africa, who is staying at the cottage for several weeks at the request of Eveliina's brother. He's there to fast and pray before starting a new mission in Finland. Both are determined to stay on the island, and Adam finds himself in a real pickle as Eveliina uses her culinary skills and feminine wiles to tempt him to break his fast and leave the cottage.

Eveliina is a spunky heroine who wants nothing to do with God, while Adam is a devout man of God. This combination of characters makes for some interesting situations as the plot thickens. I read quickly and with great enjoyment to see who would be the victor and remain on the island.

Finland, the land of the midnight sun and summer blueberries, makes an unusual setting. Ms Ueckermann uses her experience of staying in a Finnish holiday cottage to bring the landscape to life. She certainly whet my appetite to visit Finland if I ever get the opportunity.

I recommend this book highly and look forward to reading Ms Ueckermann's next book which is set in Oslo, Norway.

Thank you to the author for providing a digital copy of Helsinki Sunrise. I was not required to write a positive review and the opinions expressed above are my own.



He needed the island to himself. So did she.

Three weeks alone at a friend’s summer cottage on a Finnish lake to fast and pray. That was Adam Carter's plan. But sometimes plans go awry.

On an impromptu trip to her family's secluded summer cottage, the last thing EveliinaMikkola expected to find was a missionary from the other side of the world—in her sauna.

Determined to stay, Eveliina will do whatever it takes—from shortcrust pastry to shorts—to send the man of God packing. This island’s too small for them both.

Adam Carter, however, is not about to leave.

Will he be able to resist her temptations?

Can she withstand his prayers?


Marion has once again kindly offered to give away an e-Copy* of Helsinki Sunrise. To enter the draw for her book, please leave a comment before September 19th telling us which country you would like Marion to use for a setting in her next novel. Please include your email address to be eligible for the draw. The winner will be announced on the blog on September 21st.International readers are welcome to enter.

Be sure to follow this blog tomorrow at Inspirational Romance with Rita Galieh where Marion will share some slices of romance.

Numerous eBooks of Helsinki Sunrise will be given away on the blog tour, so take a journey to each of the stops and leave a comment. Don’t forget to include your email address.

Helsinki Sunrise is available to purchase from Pelican Book Group,Christianbook.com, Amazon, and Barnes & Noble

Watch the Helsinki Sunrise book trailer on YouTube.
Watch the Passport to Romance book trailer on YouTube.


Marion Ueckermann’s passion for writing was sparked in 2001 when she moved to Ireland with her husband and two sons. Since then she has published devotional articles and stories in Winners, The One Year Devotional of Joy and Laughter (Tyndale House Publishers), and Chicken Soup for the Soul: Miraculous Messages from Heaven, and her debut novelette, Helsinki Sunrise (White Rose Publishing, a Pelican Book Group imprint, Passport to Romance series).

Marion blogs for International Christian Fiction Writers and Beauty for Ashes. She belongs to Christian Writers of South Africa and American Christian Fiction Writers. She lives in Pretoria East, South Africa in an empty nest with her husband and their crazy black Scottie, Wally.

Connect with Marion Ueckermann:

* Void where prohibited; the odds of winning depend on the number of entrants. Entering the giveaway is considered a confirmation of eligibility on behalf of the enterer in accord with these rules and any pertaining local/federal/international laws.

Permission to use images obtained.




20 comments:

  1. Ruth, great review! I'm really looking forward to reading Helsinki Sunrise and learning more about Finland. It sounds like a fun story :)

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    1. Excited that Helsinki Sunrise is on your Kindle, Narelle. Have fun at the summer cottage :)

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  2. Thank you, Narelle. Yes, it is a fun story.

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  3. Congrats, Marion, and thanks for sharing, Ruth Ann! I'm looking forward to reading Helsinki Sunrise.

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    1. Trust you'll enjoy your time on the island at Lake Sahajarvi, Valerie.

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    2. Thank you for your dropping by, Valerie. You'll enjoy Helsinki Sunrise.

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  4. Excited for you and this new release, Marion!!!

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  5. Good review Ruth, thank you, and yes agreed it's fun to read. A clever premise.

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    1. Thanks for sharing in my blog tour, Shirl and for being one of my pre-readers. Glad you enjoyed it.

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  6. Thank you, Ruth, for the fine review. And congratulations to Marion for her accomplishment. Any chance of going to Sweden in the next one? After you've finished Norway, that is, Marion. Or you could take us to Germany, couldn't you?

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    1. Thanks, Judith. Well, next year (early I hope), I'll be taking you over the skies of Norway. Then possibly to Scotland, Ireland, and Australia. Sweden was definitely on my list to do, as is Switzerland and Brazil. So much to do, so little time ...

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  8. Hi, I would really like to feature this book on my blog. Please have the author contact me. safe[LD]writes[at]flash[dot]net

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    1. Hi Lena, I would love to have Helsinki Sunrise featured on your blog. I've tried to send you emails but the [LD] is throwing me I think. I've tried two ways and the mails are bouncing. Could you contact me on marion,ueckermann[at]gmail[dot]com

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  9. I pick Greece!!!!! Or Spain! And all that crazy blue water..or maybe Italy and all the food!!! I am a little excited about your book! I mean, how often do we read books about the male character being the one who wants nothing to do with God? I think I need to get your novel! Bravo!!!

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  10. Jenn, you'll be happy to know that Greece, Spain and Italy are all on Pelican Book Group's list. They sound like wonderful places to write a story .... as soon as I've finished with Glasgow and Melbourne, I'll have to taken another peek at these options :)

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